Congratulations on your choice to take AP US History next year. If you work hard, it will be a rewarding experience for you. Like many opportunities, what you get from taking this course will be relative to what you put into it. Some of the work involved in the course begins this summer. Below you will find the summer assignments, which are due on the first day of school. Perhaps the most important characteristic you must possess for success in AP US History and beyond is having disciplined work habits. In other words, do not complete these assignments on the night before school begins.
Due the first day of school: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Choose two of the following films to watch and summarize in 500 words or less each. Make sure your summary includes a recap of what you saw, some of your reactions, and some analysis of the history involved. I would suggest taking some notes as you watch. Feel free to watch with other students taking the course next year and to discuss the films with them, but make sure you do your own written work.
Choices:
FILM
YEAR
DIRECTOR
TOPIC
All the President’s Men
1976
Alan Pakula
Watergate Scandal
Hamburger Hill
1987
John Irvin
Vietnam War
World War II: When Lions Roared
1994
Joseph Sargent
World War II
The Fog of War
2003
Errol Morris
Vietnam War
Flags of our Fathers
2006
Clint Eastwood
World War II
Sinking of the Lusitania
2007
Christopher Spencer
World War I
Capitalism: A Love Story
2009
Michael Moore
Capitalism
2. Find three websites devoted to a historical topic or period in 20th century (1900s) U.S. history and annotate them. What does annotate mean? It means to explore and give commentary and explanation. In other words:
A. Find three websites devoted to a topic or period in 20th century (1900s) American history
B. Report each site address
C. Give an explanation and critique of each site (at least a solid paragraph for each)
Congratulations on your choice to take AP US History next year. If you work hard, it will be a rewarding experience for you. Like many opportunities, what you get from taking this course will be relative to what you put into it. Some of the work involved in the course begins this summer. Below you will find the summer assignments, which are due on the first day of school. Perhaps the most important characteristic you must possess for success in AP US History and beyond is having disciplined work habits. In other words, do not complete these assignments on the night before school begins.
Due the first day of school: Thursday, September 2, 2010
Choose two of the following films to watch and summarize in 500 words or less each. Make sure your summary includes a recap of what you saw, some of your reactions, and some analysis of the history involved. I would suggest taking some notes as you watch. Feel free to watch with other students taking the course next year and to discuss the films with them, but make sure you do your own written work.
Choices:
2. Find three websites devoted to a historical topic or period in 20th century (1900s) U.S. history and annotate them. What does annotate mean? It means to explore and give commentary and explanation. In other words:
A. Find three websites devoted to a topic or period in 20th century (1900s) American history
B. Report each site address
C. Give an explanation and critique of each site (at least a solid paragraph for each)
Examples of acceptable sites (do not use these sites for yours):
http://www.firstworldwar.com/
http://www.huppi.com/kangaroo/THE_GREAT_DEPRESSION.htm
If you have questions you may email me at bmax@malden.mec.edu but do not expect a speedy response and do not wait until the last night of the summer.
Have a great summer! See you for AP U.S. History in September.